High Court hears Gumbura bail appeal today

HARARE - High Court Judge Joseph Musakwa is today expected to hear an application for bail filed by jailed Independent End Time Message founder Robert Martin Gumbura.

Gumbura, who is currently serving a 40-year prison term, appealed to the High Court last week, after Harare regional magistrate Hosea Mujaya threw out his appeal saying he had no jurisdiction to hear the matter.

Gumbura was convicted on four counts of raping congregants in his church.

The 57-year-old pastor, through his lawyer Rekai Maposa, initially made an application for bail before Mujaya, who said bail applications for serious offences fall under the jurisdiction of the High Court.

The High Court deferred the hearing last Friday to allow prosecutor Editor Mavuto to respond to the lengthy application.

At the Harare Magistrates’ Court the prosecutor had argued that Gumbura does not have prospects of success on appeal.

“In view of the lengthy custodial sentence that was imposed coupled with the fact that accused is yet to stand trial on another similar offence in due course, this is sufficient inducement for applicant to abscond once he is released,” prosecutor Jonathan Murombedzi said.

He claimed Gumbura was a flight risk, considering the fact that he has other church branches in South Africa and United Kingdom.

However, on the other hand, Maposa told the court that the conviction and sentence was a misdirection at law, adding that her client was not a flight risk.

The controversial pastor has 11 wives and 30 children. He made headlines after openly claiming that he desired to have 100 children.

Meanwhile, Gumbura is still to stand another rape trial, following another rape charge filed by a South Africa-based woman.

The woman failed to appear in court on December 9 last year, when trial involving the other women kicked off at the Harare Magistrates’ Court.

Comments (9)

Just shut up, Gombura. This is just a waste of time and money. The only beneficiary is your lawyer, Mr Gumbura. I advise you to keep to keep the remainder of your wealth for the benefit of your big family. As for you, Gumbura, just get used to living behind bars for the rest of your life.

Dammit - 26 March 2014

ngaagaremo imhuka angatotipedze tese

libby - 26 March 2014

Gumbura is just the same as that guy who made headlines last week after raping a 3 year old girl and in his defence he says she was making it all up. Please just stay there, it is where you belong-behind bars.

Dr Know - 26 March 2014

Gumbura was falsily accused to be rapist and abusive against his congregants by those who had rebelled and were no longer his congregants for 1 year and above up to 20 years. Gumbura is no threat to outsiders. If anyone is still an insider and disgruntled, just leave church like yesterday. We are better without your falsehoods than accommodate hypocrites. Just SHUT-UP YOUR FOUL MOUTHS YOU FALSE PROPHETS AND BROOD OF VIPERS, and worship where you have no threats as you allege. We the Church need him 100% and we know that he is true and NEVER false. We love Apostle Gumbura. We were fed sound doctrine of God's bible and not twisted views of backslidders. If you are not comfortable with him, just pack your heart, mind and soul to Hell. Nonsense dogs and swines!! in Jesus Name.

Bitterness Doth Canker - 26 March 2014

let us take the matter seriously - rape is very serious and traumatizing to both the raped and the relatives and husbands included - so please Gumbura spare the little you have for your family do not waste people's time

pty - 26 March 2014

People are good at accusing without full proof or credible evidence. Our government is sleeping when women are openly and slowly making polygamy a taboo in Zimbabwe. Gumbura and me and others are NEVER ashamed to be born from polygamy backgrounds and we propagate polygamy life because its good for real women kwete MAHURE saana Majome ne team yake.

No to false rape claims!! - 26 March 2014

you are an innocent so there is no need for you to be jailed maybe people are too jealousy for yu

elias dimhairo - 1 April 2014

you are an innocent so there is no need for you to be jailed maybe people are too jealousy for yu

elias dimhairo - 1 April 2014

you are an innocent man so there is no need for you to be jailed maybe people are jealous for you don't be afraid God will help you

elias dimhairo - 1 April 2014

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